The words charity and philanthropy are often seen as interchangeable, but there are actually some key differences between the concepts. Let’s find out more.
Charity
Charity normally refers to the help that is given to people in need through the provision of necessities such as money or food. Charity is primarily done to meet the needs of a specific person at a specific time.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy goes one step further and may involve donating but also considers the root causes of the issues. The National Lottery Community Fund, for example, could be considered a type of philanthropic idea, as it involves the handing out funds in a bid to change the foundations of people’s lives.
Philanthropy can involve taking on a mission aimed at resolving an issue or lobbying a concerned authority or government to take up the cause. It could also mean getting advice from a London law firm such as //www.forsters.co.uk/.
Key Differences
So one of the key differences between charity and philanthropy is that charity is an emotional reaction to a necessity that requires addressing at a particular time, while philanthropy is an idea that becomes a mission to solve the cause of a problem. An example of charity would be paying school fees on behalf of a single child, while philanthropy could involve building a whole school for a community.
Charity will provide direct relief for social problems or suffering. Philanthropy will systematically tackle root causes and involve trying to get to a solution.
